Willing to work in different environment?

Are you willing to work in a completely different work environment?

Many have dreamed of traveling to an exotic foreign land. The fact that you’re considering teaching in China shows that you are undoubtedly one of them. Before making the commitment to teach abroad in China, you need to keep in mind that the culture and environment which you will be teaching in is very different from your own.

We all grow up believing the surroundings we have grown up with are “normal.” That is part of the reason why it can be difficult to acclimate to a foreign environment. There is nothing wrong with that, but you need to realize going in to the experience of teaching abroad that the people you will be working with consider their culture “normal.” When you are abroad, you are the one who is “different” or “foreign.”

Immersion is by far the best way to learn a language and to acquaint yourself to a new culture. You will find different traditions, different foods, and a different way of life. This is to be expected. Some culture shock is inevitable, but if you are willing to approach China with an open mind and embrace the differences, you will find yourself fitting in sooner than you expect.

As long as you approach the Chinese culture and people with the same respect you’d expect as a guest to your own country, you will find that the Chinese people are warm, friendly, and welcoming. One of the things you will notice very quickly in China is that teachers are afforded a great deal of respect. The teaching of children is a responsibility and a trust which the Chinese people take very seriously. If you come to teach in China, you will be shown much respect, and you will be expected to live by high ethical standards.

You will, of course, need to be flexible regarding your approach to education. There are differences between the Chinese educational system and the American or British school systems. Ultimately, the goal is the same: to educate young people. You will need to approach your time teaching with the mindset that you are in China and you will need to be willing to work within the Chinese educational system. It is important that you remain flexible and willing to learn new ways of approaching education.

You will need to keep in mind, as well, that some of your teaching colleagues may not be completely fluent in English. While most Chinese educators do speak some English, and you will also be learning to speak Chinese, there may be a bit of a language gap that requires patience, especially at first. As always, if you run into problems, Next Step China’s staff (who are fluent in English, Spanish, and Mandarin) are available to help you.